Ariṣṭa, the bull-demon, having been cast aside by the Lord, rose again with his massive body drenched in sweat, his breath coming in heavy bursts, eyes blazing with wrath. Driven by fury, he charged at Krishna once more. But Krishna, undaunted, seized the demon by his horns, pressed him down with his foot, and hurled him to the earth. Like one wringing water from a soaked garment, Krishna squeezed Ariṣṭa, struck him with his own horn, and the demon crashed down. Overcome by agony, Ariṣṭa vomited blood, lost control of his body, and thrashed his legs wildly; his eyes rolled as his life ebbed away, and at last, he met his end at the hands of Nirṛti, the Lord of Death. The gods above, witnessing Krishna’s valor, showered him with flowers and sang his praises. Having vanquished this bull-demon, known also as Kukudmin, Krishna, lauded by the twice-born sages, returned to the cowherd settlement with Balarama. Their arrival was a festival for the eyes of the gopīs, who rejoiced at the sight of the brothers. When news of Ariṣṭa’s defeat at Krishna’s wondrous hands reached the heavens, the divine sage Nārada, seer of the gods, hastened to inform Kaṃsa. Nārada told the king that the daughter of Yaśodā, Krishna—son of Devakī—and Rāma, son of Rohiṇī, had been entrusted by the fearful Vasudeva. Vasudeva, out of concern, had placed the two boys in the care of his friend Nanda, and it was these very children who had slain Kaṃsa’s agents. Hearing this revelation, Kaṃsa, the king of the Bhojas, was seized with furious agitation. In a fit of rage, he took up a sharp sword, intent on killing Vasudeva. But Nārada restrained him, revealing that these two sons were destined to be the cause of his own death. Realizing the truth in Nārada’s words, Kaṃsa bound Vasudeva and his wife with iron chains. When the divine sage departed, Kaṃsa summoned the demon Keśin and gave him his orders: “Go, kill Rāma and Keśava. Afterward, send Muṣṭika, Cāṇūra, Śala, Tośala, and others.” Kaṃsa then called together his ministers and the keepers of elephants, addressing them: “Hear me, all of you. These are the mighty wrestlers, Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika. In Nanda’s village dwell the two sons of Ānakadundubhi, Rāma and Krishna. My death has been foretold at their hands. You must kill them here in a wrestling match. Prepare various platforms and a grand arena, so that all the citizens and country folk may witness their combat.” He continued, “Chief minister, bring the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa to the gate of the arena, so that he may slay my enemies there. Begin the bow-sacrifice on the fourteenth day, with all the prescribed rites, and bring pure animals for offering to the Lord of beings, the bestower of blessings.” After instructing his ministers, Kaṃsa summoned Akrura, the foremost among the Yadus, took his hand, and spoke with feigned warmth: “O generous lord, please, out of respect, be my friend. Among the Bhojas and Vrishnis, there is no one more well-wishing than you. I take refuge in you, for you are capable of great tasks—just as Indra relied on Vishnu to fulfill his purpose.” “Go to Nanda’s Vraja, where the two sons of Anakadundubhi reside. Bring them here at once in this chariot. It is said that the gods of Vaikuntha have sent my death. Bring those two, together with the cowherds led by Nanda and their gifts.” “When they arrive, I will have them killed by the elephant, who is like death itself. If they escape, the wrestlers, fierce as lightning, will slay them. Once those two are dead, I will destroy Vasudeva and his kin, the Vrishnis, Bhojas, and Dasharhas. I will also kill Ugrasena, my aged father who covets the throne, his brother Devaka, and all who oppose me. Then, this earth will be free of thorns. Jarasandha is my mentor, Dvivida my friend, and Shambara, Naraka, and Bana are my devoted allies. With them, I will destroy the kings allied with the gods and enjoy the earth.” “Knowing all this, quickly bring Rāma and Krishna, who delight in play, to witness the bow-sacrifice and see the splendor of the Yadu city.” Akrura replied, “O King, your command is proper, and removing your enemies is your duty. Yet, success or failure depends equally on destiny, for destiny is the true cause of all results. People strive for their desires, even against fate, and are subject to both joy and sorrow. Nevertheless, I will carry out your order.” Thus, after instructing Akrura and dismissing his ministers, Kaṃsa entered his palace, and Akrura returned to his own house. Meanwhile, Kaṃsa sent forth Keśi, a mighty horse-demon as swift as thought. As Keśi thundered across the land, his hooves shook the earth, his mane lashed the sky, and his fierce neighing struck terror into all who heard. With wide, wild eyes, a monstrous mouth, and a huge neck dark as a raincloud, Keśi, bent on evil, raced to Nanda’s Vraja, making it tremble. As Keśi terrified the cowherd village with his neighing and the storm of clouds tossed by his tail, Krishna, the leader of the cowherds, called out to him, his voice roaring like a lion. Keśi, seeing Krishna as he performed sacrifice, charged in rage, as if to swallow the very sky, and struck the lotus-eyed Lord with his terrible feet. But Krishna, the Unmanifest One, undeceived and wrathful, seized Keśi with both arms. Whirling him by the legs, he hurled the demon aside a hundred bows’ length, just as Garuda might cast off a serpent. Regaining his senses, Keśi rose again, his fury undiminished, and rushed at Hari with gaping jaws. But Krishna, smiling, thrust his arm into the demon’s mouth, as a serpent enters its hole. As Krishna’s arm touched Keśi’s teeth, they shattered like heated iron, and the Lord’s arm grew within him, swelling like an iron bar. With his breath blocked and limbs flailing, Keśi’s body was drenched in sweat, his eyes rolled, and he collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood and lifeless. Krishna withdrew his arm from the demon’s body, which resembled the fruit of a crab-apple. The Lord was neither astonished nor boastful at this effortless victory. The gods honored him with showers of flowers. Then, O King, the foremost of devotees, the divine sage Nārada, approached Krishna and spoke a secret, praising him whose actions are ever pure: “Krishna, Krishna, O unfathomable Self, Lord of yoga, Lord of the universe, O Vāsudeva, abode of all, foremost of the Sātvatas, O Master!